Container and dispensing closure therefor



Aug. 20, 968 w. c. KIRKPATRICK 3,397,823

CONTAINER AND DISPENSING CLOSURE THEREFOR Filed Aug. 2, 1965 INVENTOR.

WYLIE C. KIRKPATRICK ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,397,823 CONTAINER AND DISPENSING CLOSURE THEREFOR Wylie C. Kirkpatrick, Moreland Hills, Ohio, assignor to The Glidden Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Aug. 2, 1965, Ser. No. 476,233 9 Claims. (Cl. 222-480) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A dispensing closure for a container which includes a body member having a dispensing aperture therein, a cover hinged to the body member for covering and uncovering the dispensing aperture and a removable seal disposed between the body member and cover for sealing the dispensing aperture is provided. Also, a container is provided having a dispensing closure which includes a body member mounted on a rim around a top opening of a can and a cover hinged to the body member for covering and uncovering a dispensing aperture in the body member, and wherein the cover is biased toward an open position and is movable from a closed position in which it is latched to the body member toward its open position in response to exerting a pressure force against an adjacent side portion of the can. Additionally, a container having a dispensing closure which is press fitted over an inwardly curled rim around a top opening of a can to mount the closure on the can and which seats on the rim to provide a seal therebetween is provided.

The present invention relates to containers for containing granulated or powdered material, such as condiments, and more particularly to a dispensing closure top or cap for a condiment can or the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved container for containing granulated or powdered material, such as condiments, and which is of a highly practical form and of an economical and reliable construction.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved container in which an open top can has a dispensing closure cap mounted on a rim around the top of the can so that a seal is formed between the top of the rim and the closure cap and so that a raw edge of the rim bites into a skirt on the closure cap which is disposed inside of the can and is deflected inwardly by the rim to securely retain the closure cap on the can.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved container in which an open top can or the like has a dispensing closure top mounted on its rim around the top of the can, and wherein the dispensing closure top includes a body member having a dispensing aperture or apertures therein and a cover or covers hinged to the body member and biased toward an open position, and wherein the body member and cover or covers have releasable latching elements which cooperably engage one another to latch the cover or covers in a closed position in which the latter overlie the body member to close the aperture or apertures therein and which are disengageable from each other to enable the cover or covers to be biased toward their open position by grasping the can and deflecting its side wall adjacent the latch elements inwardly.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved container, as defined in the next preceding object, wherein the closure cap includes inner and outer depending skirts which are adapted to be press-fitted over the rim of the can, and wherein the outer skirt is cut away adjacent the side wall of 3,397,823 Patented Aug. 20, 1968 ice the can against which the inwardly directed pressure is exerted to render the side wall and rim more flexible and enable the same to be more easily deflected when the cover or covers are to be opened.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved dispensing closure for a condiment container or the like comprising a body member having one or more dispensing apertures therein, cover means hingedly connected to the body member and swingable relative thereto for covering and uncovering the aperture or apertures, and a removable seal disposed between the body member and the cover means and preferably attached to the body member for sealing the aperture or apertures therein and preventing spillage of the contents of the can in the event of accidental opening of the cover means during shipment and/or handling thereof.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved dispensing closure, as defined in the next preceding object, wherein the cover means includes one or more projections on its underside which are adapted to engage the seal and be partially received within the dispensing aperture or apertures to, press the seal into tight engagement with the outer edge of the aperture or apertures.

' Other objects, novel characteristics and advantages of this invention will be apparent in the following detailed description and in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a container embodying the present invention and showing the covers of the dispensing closure thereof in their closed position;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective View of the container shown in FIG. 1 with the covers of the dispensing closure thereof in their open position;

FIG. Sis a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to that of FIG. 3 but showing a modified construction;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken approxi mately along line 55 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6' is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken approximately along line 66 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a container similar to that shown in FIG. 2 but showing a modified dispensing closure construction; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of part of the dispensing closure of the container shown in FIG. 7 and showing a cover thereof in its latched position.

Referring to the drawings, a highly practical embodiment of the container of the present invention is there shown and generally designated by reference numeral 10. The container 10 comprises, in general, a receptacle or can 12 having a peripherally extending rim 14 defining a top opening 16 for the can and on which a dispensing closure top or cap 18 is mounted. The container 10 can be used for containing many different kinds of powdered or granulated materials, but is particularly adapted for use in containing condiments or comestibles.

The can 12 is preferably made of metal and is here shown as having a generally rectangular shape. The can 12, as viewed in FIG. 1, has opposed forward and rearward side walls 20 and 21 and opposed end walls 22 and 23 and a bottom wall 24 spaced upwardly from the bottom edges of the side and end walls so that the walls pro vide a longitudinally and peripherally extending supporting flange 26 which depends from the bottom wall of the can. The rim 14 of the can 12, in the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 3, is formed by bending or curling the upper edges of the side and end walls 20 and 22 inwardly and then downwardly so as to define a curl or curved flange having a generally semicircular cross-sectional shape and a downwardly and inwardly facing free or raw edge 28.

The dispensing closure cap 18 is adapted to be pressfitted onto the rim 14 of the can 12 and is preferably of a one-piece, molded plastic construction. The closure cap 18 can be molded in one piece from any suitable thermoplastic, such as polyethylene, polyolefin or polypropylene. The closure cap 18 comprises a body member 30 in the form of a generally rectangularly shaped frame having a flat or planar top surface 32 and inner and outer concentric depending or downwardly extending skirts 34 and 36, respectively, as viewed in FIG. 3. The skirts 34 and 36 are formed such that they extend parallel or substantially parallel to each other so as to simplify molding thereof. The outer skirt 36 extends completely around the outer periphery of the body member 30 and the inner skirt 34 is spaced inwardly from the outer periphery of the body member 30 and is concentric with the outer skirt 36. The skirts 34 and 36 define therebetween a groove or channel 38 extending completely around the body member 30 at or closely adjacent its outer periphery and which receives the rim 14 of can 12 when the body member 30 is mounted thereon. The skirts 34 and 36 are formed such that the effective width of the groove 38 is slightly less than the maximum width or diameter of the curl of the rim 14 and the distance between the outer peripheral surfaces of the skirt 34 and a plane extending parallel thereto and pass ing through the longitudinal axis of the can 12 is slightly greater than the distance between the raw edge 28 of the adjacent portions of the rim 14 and the same plane.

The dispensing closure cap 16 is mounted on the can 12 by positioning the body member 30 so that the peripherally extending groove 38 thereof is aligned with the rim 14 of the can 12 and then forcing or press-fitting the skirts 34 and 36 over the inner and outer peripheries, respectively, of the rim 14. As the skirts 34 and 36 are being press-fitted over the inner and outer peripheries of the rim 14, the outer skirt 36 engages the outer periphery of the rim 14 and the upper portion of the side and end walls of the can 12 contiguous with the rim 14 and the inner skirt 34 engages the innermost portion of the curl adjacent or at the raw edge 28 and is elastically deflected inwardly of the can so that the skirt 34 will bow around the curved rim, as viewed in vertical cross-section in FIG. 3. When the closure cap 16 is mounted on the rim 14, the elastic forces, due to the natural elasticity of the plastic material, tending to return the skirt 34 to its initial position, i.e., its position when free of any externally imposed forces, causes the skirt 34 to press tighty against the innermost portion of the rim 14 which in turn causes the raw edge 28 of the rim 14 to bite into the outer side surface of the skirt 34 and causes the lower end of the skirt which extends below the raw edge 28 and is free or any restraint to be at least partially disposed beneath the raw edge 28 to enhance the bite of the raw edge 28 into the inner skirt 34.

From the above, it can be seen that due to the shape of the curl of the rim 14 and the cooperative engagement between the raw edge 28 and the inner skirt 34, the closure cap 18 is securely retained on the rim 14 of the can 12 because any attempt to remove the closure cap from the can 12 will increase the bite bet-ween the raw edge 28 and the inner skirt 34. To further enhance the bite between the raw edge 28 and the inner skirt 34, the raw edge 28 can be serrated.

' To facilitate mounting the closure cap :16 on the can 12, the outer skirt 36 is here shown as being provided with a plurality of parallel upwardly extending ribs 41 spaced along its inner periphery. The ribs 41 are adapted to engage the side and end walls of the can 12 and the effective width of the groove 38 is the distance between the innermost end of the ribs 41 and the wall of the inner skirt 34 which engages the edge 28.

The peripherally extending groove 38 is preferably provided with a rounded bottom 42 having a shape which conforms or is generally complementary with the curl of the rim 14. The bottom 42, in the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 3, engages the outer periphery of the curl along its top surface and along its side surface facing inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the can 12 when the closure cap 18 is mounted thereon to provide a peripherally extending seal therebetween.

FIG. 4 shows a can 44 having a modified form of rim 45 onto which the closure cap 18 may be mounted. Except for the rim 45, the can 44 is similar to the can 12, and corresponding parts thereof which are identical have been designated'by the same reference numerals. The rim 45 is formed by bending the upper edge of the side and end walls of the can 12 inwardly approximately degrees, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4, so as to form a flange 46 extending substantially perpendicular to the side and end walls and having a raw edge 47. The width of the flange 46 is slightly greater than the effective width of the groove 38 and the distance between the raw edge 47 thereof and a plane extending parallel thereto and passing the longitudinal center axis of the can is slightly less than the distance between the outer periphery of the adjacent portion of the inner skirt 34 and the same plane. The closure cap 18 is mounted on the rim 44 in the same manner that it is mounted on the rim 14 except that when mounted on the rim 44 the flange 46 is bent downwardly somewhat by the inner skirt 34, as shown in solid lines in FIG. 4, to form an acute angle with the adjacent side and end walls of the can 12. As the flange 48 is bent downwardly the raw edge 47 thereof bites into the outer periphery of the inner skirt 34 to securely retain the closure cap 18 on the can 44. When the closure cap 18 is mounted on the rim 45 of the can 44,'the bottom 42 of the groove 38 seats on the rim 45 to provide a peripherally extending seal between the closure cap 18 and the can 44.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the body member 30 has a large through opening 50, preferably secant shaped, adjacent one end thereof to enable the contents of the can 12 to be either spooned out or poured therefrom and a plurality of sifter openings or apertures 52 adjacent its opposite end and spaced from the opening 50. The sifter openings 52 are here shown as being small round through openings through which smaller amounts of the contents of the can 12 can be sifted when the can 12 is held upside down and shaken.

The openings 50 and 52 are adapted to be closed by a pair of covers or cover members 54 and 55, respectively. The covers 54 and 55 are here shown as being generally rectangular in shape and are hingedly connected to the body member 30 at its outer periphery along its rear side, as viewed in FIG. 2, by hinges 56 and 58, respectively, formed integral with the body member 30 and the covers 54 and 55. The covers 54 and 55 are movable between a closed position, as shown in FIG. 1, wherein they overlie the openings 50 and 52 in the body member 30 to close the same and an open position, as shown in FIG. 2.

The covers or lids 54 and 55 are biased toward their open position, as shown in FIG. 2, by the hinges 56 and 58. Due to the elastic or memory nature of the thermoplastic material, the hinges 56 and 58 will tend to assume the position in which they are molded relative to the body member and cover member. Thus, by forming the mold for the closure cap 18 so that the body member, hinges and cover members all lie in the same plane or substantially the same plane, the hinges when free of any restraint will tend to assume the position in which they were molded, and hence, will bias the covers 54 and 55 toward their open position.

The covers 54 and 55, in the preferred embodiment, are adapted to be retained in their closed position in opposition to the bias imposed by the hinges 56 and 58 by releasable latching means 60 and 62, respectively. Since the releasable latching means 60 and 62 for the covers 54 and 55 are identical in construction, only the releasable latching means 62 for retaining the cover 55 in its closed position will be described in detail and corresponding parts of the releasable latching means 60 will be given the same reference numerals.

The releasable latching means 62 comprises a latch ele ment 64 integrally molded to the body member 30 adjacent its forward side, as viewed in FIG. 2, and a cooperable catch element 66 provided in the cover 55. The latch element 64 comprises a protuberance or flange 68 extending substantially perpendicular with the planar top surface 32 and having a transversely and forwardly projecting nib or bead 70 at its upper end. The catch element 66 comprises a recess or opening 72 formed in the underside of the cover 55 and which is adapted to receive the latch element 64 when the cover 55 is moved to its closed position The catch element further comprises a nib or bead 74 projecting transversely from a side wall of the recess 72 at its lower end and which is adapted to cooperatively engage the nib 70 on the latch element 64 to latch the cover in its closed position. The cover 55 is latched to the body member by snap fitting the nib 74 over the nib 70 so that the nib 74 is disposed beneath the nib 70. Alternatively, the side wall of the recess 72 could be provided with a recess extending transversely thereto which snap fittingly receives the nib 70 of the latch element 64 when the cover 55 is moved to its closed position.

One of the features of the present invention is that the cover members 54 and 55 can be flipped or moved from their closed position to their open position in response to exerting an inwardly directed pressure against the upper portion of the forward side wall to deflect the side wall 20 and its adjacent rim portion inwardly toward the center of the can. For example, if it is desired to move the cover member 55 to its open position the can 12 can be grasped between the thumb and forefinger and an inwardly directed pressure exerted against the upper portion of the forward side wall 20 by the thumb. When pressure is so exerted against the forward wall 20 the rim 14 is deflected inwardly and pressed against the inner skirt 34 of the body member to cause the latter to be distorted or moved toward the opposite side wall 21. As the body member 30 is distorted or moved toward the other side wall 21, the nib 70 carried by the latch element is moved away from the nib 74 of the catch element 66. When the nib 70 has been sufficiently moved away from the nib 74, the bias of the hinge 58 will cause the cover member to flip towards its open position. If the cover member 54 should also come open in the process of opening the cover member 55, it can be readily moved and latched in its closed position by the forefinger of the hand which is grasping the can.

The outer skirt 36, in the preferred embodiment, along the midportion of its side adjacent the latch elements'64 is cut out or cut away, as indicated by reference numeral 80, in order to render the upper edge and rim of the forward side wall 20 of the can 12 more flexible. The provision of the cut out 80 in the outer skirt 36 reduces the structural rigidity of the connection between the rim 14 and the closure cap 16 so as to enable the rim 14 and the upper edge of the forward wall 20 to be easily deflected inwardly by the thumb. Alternately, the outer skirt 36 could be cut away at a pair of locations, one of which is located adjacent the releasable latching means and the other of which is located adjacent the releasable latching means 62.

The extent of the overlapping engagement of the nibs 70 and 74 can be varied depending on the relative strength and rigidity of the rim of the can and/or closure cap. However, the overlapping engagement should be such that the cover members 54 and 55 are effectively retained in their closed positions during shipment, storage and normal handling thereof but yet can be flipped to their open position when the nib 70 of the latch element 64 is moved away slightly from the nib 74 of the catch element 66 by inwardly deflecting side wall 20 of the can 12.

The covers 54 and 55, if no protuberances for extending into the openings 50 and 52 are provided on its underside, can also be selectively flipped or moved from their closed position toward their open position by pressing or pushing against the covers 54 and 55 at their rearward sides, as viewed in FIG. 2, so as to cause the covers 54 and 55 to be moved slightly relative to the body member 30 toward the forward side wall 20. This movement of the covers 54 and 55 can be effected as a result of the flexibility and elasticity of the plastic hinges 56 and 58. The hinges 56 and 58 are preferably of a length such that they form a small loop or curl, when the covers 54 and 55 are in their closed position, so that when the covers are moved slightly toward the forward side wall 20, the hinges 56 and 58 will elastically flex in the general plane of movement of the covers 54 and 55. When the cover 55, for example, is moved relative to the body member toward the side wall 20, the nib 74 of the catch element 66 thereof is moved away from the nib 70 of the latch element 64 on the body member 30. When the nib 74 has been sufficiently moved away from the nib 70, the bias of the hinge will cause the cover member 55 to flip towards its open position. It will, of course, be understood that various similar releasable latching means could be designed which release the latching engagement between the covers 54 and 55 and the body member 30 in response to displacement or movement of the covers 54 and 55 by taking advantage of the flexibility and elasticity of the plastic hinges.

The cover members 54 and 55 can also be lifted to their open positions, if desired. To this end the cover members 54 and 55 are provided with recesses 82 and 83 in their outer peripheral sides adjacent the side wall 20 of the can 12 so as to enable a fingernail to be inserted therein for lifting the same to their open position.

To enable the containers 10 to be vertically stacked, the cover members 54 and 55 are provided with raised tops or decks 87 and 88 having peripherally extending sides which are spaced inwardly from the adjacent outermost peripheral sides of the cover members 54 and 55 so as to define a peripherally extending shoulder or flange 90 around the cover members 54 and 55. The provision of the peripherally extending shoulder 90 provides a supporting surface for the bottom supporting flange 26 of the cans 12 and the provision of the raised decks 87 and 88 prevents the cans 12 from sliding laterally relative to each other and thus, retains the cans in a stacked relation.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision .of a removable seal disposed between the body member 30 and cover members 54 and 55 for sealing the apertures 50, 52 therein prior to using the contents of the container 10. The seal 100 is here shown as being a thin elongated or generally rectangularly shaped member which extends laterally across the body member 30 between its opposite ends and surrounds the openings 50 and 52 to seal the same. The seal 100 can be made of any suitable material, such -as paper, plastic or metal foil and is preferably provided with a pressure-sensitive adhesive coating on one side thereof for adhesively securing the seal 100 to the body member 30. Any suitable pressuresensitive adhesive coating, such as a conventional rubber base adhesive coating, may be used which releasably sticks to plastic and which readily and cleanly strips therefrom. Alternately, a heat-activated adhesive coating or film, such as one having a polyvinyl chloride or terpene resin base, could be applied to the sealing member or to the body member 30, or a liquid adhesive could be applied to the body member 30 in a surrounding relationship with respect to all of the openings 50 and 52 and the sealing member or web 100 applied thereto or pressed thereon with heat to attach the same to the body member 30. The alternate methods of securing the seal 100 to the body member 30 have the advantage that the exposed areas of the openings will not come into contact with the adhesive coating thereby insuring that the contents of the container will not stick to the exposed areas. Addi- 7 tionally, the seal 100 could be secured to the body member 30 byelectrostatic attraction. The seal 100 is preferably provided with a lifting tab 101 at one end to enable it to be readily removed.

To insure that the seal 100 effects a tight seal around the opening 50, the cover 54, in the preferred embodiment, is provided with a projecting rib or protuberance 102 on its underside having an outer periphery which is shaped complementary with the periphery of the opening 50 and which partially extends into the opening 50 when the cover is in its closed position to press the seal 100 into tight engagement with the outer edge of the opening 50. Likewise, the cover member 55 optionally can be provided with a plurality of projections .or protuberances 104 on its underside which are partially receivable within the openings 52 and which press the seal 100 into tight engagement with the outer edge of the openings 52.

The provision of the removable seal 100 provides a very effective seal for the openings 50 and 52 to keep the contents of the container fresh during shipment and storage prior to use, assures the customer that the container has been factory filled and prevents spillage of the contents during shipment and/or handling prior to use of the contents thereof in the event that the covers should he accidentally flipped to their open position. Moreover, the provision of the protuberance 102 and the protuberances 104, if provided, on the underside of the covers 54 and 55 seal the openings 50 and 52 to prevent spillage of the contents of the container if the covers 54 and 55 are not altogether flush with the body member 30 when in their closed position after the seal 100 has been removed. Alternately, a permanent pad or gasket of resilient material held in place by compression between the cap cover and body member or by adhesion to the cover could be provided in place of or in addition to the removable seal 100, if desired.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a modified form of closure cap 92 which may be employed in place of the closure cap 18, and corresponding parts thereof will be given the same reference numerals as the parts of the closure cap 18. The closure cap 92 is similar to the closure cap 18, except that the latch elements 64 of the releasable latching means 60 and 62 are formed integral with the covers 54 and 55 'andthe catch elements 66 are formed integral with body member 30. The latch and catch elements 64 and 66 of the closure cap 92 are identical in construction to the latch and catch elements 64 and 66 of the closure cap 18 except that the nibs or beads thereof project in directions which are opposite to the directions in which the nibs or beads project in the closure cap 18. The releasable latching means 60 and 62 of the closure cap 92 function in the same manner or fashion to latch the covers 54 and 55 to the body member 30 as the releasable latching means 60 and 62 of the closure cap 18.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that a novel container of a highly practical form and economical construction has been provided for containing granulated or powdered material, like condiments. Moreover, it is apparent that a novel dispensing closure top or cap for a condiment can or the like which effectively seals dispensing apertures therein and prevents spillage of the contents during shipment and/or handling thereof has been provided. Additionally it can be seen that a novel dispensing closure top for a condiment can or the like having covers for closing the dispensing apertures therein and which are movable to an open position in response to exerting an inwardly directing pressure against the side of the can has been provided.

Although the containers of this invention have been illustrated and described herein to a somewhat detailed extent, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not to be regarded as being limited correspondingly in scope but includes all changes and modifications coming within the terms of the claims hereof.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A container comprising a can having a top open ing and a one piece, molded plastic dispensing closure top mounted on a rim around the top opening of the can, said dispensing closure top comprising a body member having a dispensing aperture therein and inner and outer skirt portions defining a groove therebetween for'receiving the rim of the container, a cover member movable between a closed position wherein it overlies said body member to close the aperture therein and an open position, a hinge integrally molded with said body member and said cover member and operable to bias said cover member towards its open position, and releasable latch means for latching said cover member to said body member in opposition to the bias imposed by said hinge When said cover member is moved to its closed position, said releasable latch means including cooperable latching elements carried by said body member and said cover member at a location remote from said hinge means and which cooperably engage one another to latch said cover member to said body member when the former is in its closed position and which are disengageable from each other to enable the bias of said hinge means to move said cover member towards its open position in response to movement of said cooperable element on said body member in a direction inwardly of the can from the cooperable element on said cover member upon the inner skirt portion and body member portion adjacent thereto being deflected inwardly of the can by deflecting an adjacent side portion of the container inwardly.

2. A container, as defined in claim 1, wherein said outer skirt portion is cut away at a location adjacent the cooperable element on said body member to enable the rim of the container to be more easily deflected.

3. A container, as defined in claim 1, including a removable seal disposed between said body member and said cover member and removably secured to said body member to seal the dispensing aperture therein.

4. A container, as defined in claim 1, wherein said cooperable latching elements comprise a transversely projecting flange carried by one of said members and a recess in the other of said members for receiving the flange when the cover member is in its closed position, said flange and recess having transversely extending protuberances which are snap fitted past each other when the cover member is moved to its closed position to latch the latter to said body member and which are disengageable in response to movement of the latching element of said body member inwardly of the can.

5. A container as defined in claim 1 wherein a strippable seal covers said aperture and is adhesively secured to the top surface of said body member.

6. A condiment container as defined in claim 1 in which said rim is turned inwardly and downwardly and has an innermost sharp edge around the top opening of the can, the width of said groove defined by said inner and outer skirt portions at said edge being less than the width of the rim in the relaxed condition of the plastic top whereby said inner skirt is maintained in a deflected stressed condition by said rim and the restoring stresses in said inner skirt set up by the deflection by said rim effects a cutting of said rim into said skirt and the relaxation of the deflection stresses in the lowermost part of the inner skirt effects the curling of the lowermost part of the inner skirt around said edge.

7. A container comprising a can having a top opening and a one-piece, molded plastic dispensing closure top mounted on a rim around the top opening, said dispensing closure top comprising a body member having a large aperture therein adjacent one side thereof and a plurality of sifter apertures therein adjacent another side thereof and having inner and outer skirt portions defining a groove for receiving the rim of the container, first and second cover members movable between a closed position wherein they overlie said body member to close the large and sifter apertures therein, respectively, and an open posi- 9 tion, hinge means integrally formed with said cover members and body member for hingedly connecting said cover members to said body member and operable to bias said cover members toward their open position, and first and second releasable latch means for latching said first and second cover members to said body member and in opposition to the bias of said hinge means when said first and second cover members are moved to their closed position, respectively, said first and second releasable latch means comprising cooperable latching elements integrally with said members carried by said body member and said first and second cover members, respectively, which cooperably engage one another to latch said first and second members to said body member when the former are in their closed position and which are selectively disengageable from each other in response to movement of said latching elements of said body member inwardly of the can to move the latching elements on said body member in an unlatching direction away from the latching elements of said cover members in response to pressure exerted against an adjacent side portion of the container which deflects the side portion of said body member inwardly whereby the cover members are moved to their open position by said hinge means.

8. A container, as defined in claim 7, wherein said outer skirt portion is cut away at a location adjacent the cooperable latching element on said body member to enable the rim of the container to be more easily deflected.

9. A container comprising a can having a top opening and a one piece, plastic dispensing closure top mounted on a rim around the top opening of the can, said dispensing closure top comprising a body member having an aperture therein and a peripherally extending groove for receiving the rim of the container, a cover member movable relative to said body member between a closed position wherein it overlies said body member to close the aperture therein and an open position in which it uncovers the aperture in the body member, hinge means formed integral with said cover member and said body member for hingedly connecting said cover member to said body member and for biasing said cover member towards its open position, and releasable latch means for latching said cover member to said body member in opposition to the bias of said hinge means when said cover member is moved to its closed position, said hinge means permitting relative movement between said cover and body members in the plane of the body member when the cover member is in said closed position, said releasable latch means including co-operable latching elements integral with said body member and said cover member at a location remote from said hinge means and which cooperatively engage one another to latch the cover member to said body member when the former is moved to its closed position and which are disengageable from each other to enable the bias of said hinge means to move said cover towards its open position when said latching elements are relatively moved away from one another in a direction parallel to the plane of the body member in response to relatively moving said cover and body members in the plane of the body member when the cover member is in its closed position said body member being displaced inwardly of said can on inward movement of a side wall portion of the can adjacent thereto to move the latching element on said body member inwardly to release said latching elements and effect movement of said cover member to an open position in response to the bias of said hinge means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 567,942 9/1896 Hendrick 222-424 X 2,809,766 10/1957 Anderson 292-87 3,160,327 12/1964 Porcelli 222-541 X 3,268,125 8/1966 Waldrum 222-541 X 2,347,724 5/ 1944 White 220-36 2,857,080 10/1958 Elias 222-215 X 2,986,309 5/1961 Larson 222-480 3,139,646 7/1964 Vernon 222-541 X 3,140,019 7/1964 Barr 222-480 3,155,285 11/1964 Van Baarn 222-153 3,217,949 11/1965 Davis 222-480 3,254,811 6/ 1966 Harris 222-541 3,262,606 7/1966 Waterman 222-153 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

N. L. STACK, Assistant Examiner. 

